B1.3 Medicine And Drugs

Question 1

What are some features of a good medicine?

Answer 1

Effective, safe and stable

Question 2

How long could it take to bring out a new medicine and how much would it cost?

Answer 2

12 years

£350 million

Question 3

What’s a placebo?

Answer 3

In a drug trial you would give one group a fake pill which is a sugar pill. Niether the doctors nor patients know who has the correct drug. It creates a non-bias test.

Question 4

What’s the thalidomide case?

Answer 4

It was created to be a sleeping pill but then they discovered it healed morning sickness for pregnant women. Lots of pregnant women took this drug but their babies were born without limbs. This led onto the new law of Medicines Act 1968. Medicines now have to incredibly thoroughly checked. It also heals leprosy but still deforms foetuses to was banned by WHO

Question 5

What’s the process of making a new drug?

Answer 5

Researchers target a disease and make lots of possible new drugs.
They are tested in the lab on cells, tissues and organs.
They are then tested on animals.
Drugs which pass are tested on human in small doses.
Then it’s used on a small number of patients.
Then it’s used on bigger clinical trials.
Then a doctor will be able to prescribe it.

Question 6

What are statins?

Answer 6

Drugs that lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood. They stop your liver producing too much cholesterol. Patients need to keep a relatively low fat diet as well for the best effects.

Question 7

Name an example of a medicinal drug

Answer 7

Penicillin
Paracetamol
Aspirin

Question 8

Name an example of a recreational drug

Answer 8

Nicotine
Caffeine
Alcohol

Question 9

Name an illegal drug

Answer 9

Heroin
LSD
Betel nut

Question 10

What are the advantages of statins?

Answer 10

People don’t have to change their diet

Significantly lower rates of strokes and heart attacks

Question 11

Give an example of an addictive drug

Answer 11

Alcohol
Cocaine
Nicotine
Cannabis
Caffeine

Question 12

Define addiction

Answer 12

Where you keep taking a drug because you feel it makes you better

Question 13

What are the problems with addiction?

Answer 13

Depression
Slurred speech
Physical changes 
Vomitting
Losing touch with family and friends

Question 14

What happens during drug withdrawal?

Answer 14

A drug is taken away from someone who is addicted to it. The person would the suffer from side effects like feeling uncomfortable, aches, shaking, coldness and itchiness. The body is so addicted that the body has change which is painful

Question 15

What are steroids?

Answer 15

Drugs which build up muscle mass

They are banned for professional athletes because it enhances their performance which is unfair.